Sermons upon the Book of Job

WE have seen already whereunto this talk tendeth: that is to §30wit, to humble men, because they be far from the perfection of the Angels. And sith the case standeth so, that if God listeth to judge his Angels with rigour, he should find fault enough in them: what then should become of them which are so unable to say any thing for themselves, as they have nothing in them but vanity? Nevertheless it might seem, that that which is rehearsed here, was not sufficient to prove the §40intent of Eliphas. For albeit that men be feeble, and albeit that their life be nothing: yet doth it not therefore follow, that they be either sinners or faulty before God. For they be several things to say, our life is transitory, & vanisheth away every minute of an hour, & to say that God may condemn us. But if all things be well considered: the reasons that are here alleged, are fit for the purpose. For the case standeth not simply upon mens frailty as in respect of their bodies: but upon their dwelling here in this corruptible flesh, & that they be so earthly as they think §50not on themselves, although they have death continually before their eyes. Also we must mark the comparison in such manner & form as it is set down here, between the Angels & mortal men. We see the Angels are near unto God, and behold his glory, & are wholly given to his service: & yet for all that, there is no steadfastness in them, further than they be upheld by the grace of God: They might fade and vanish away of themselves, were it not that God of his mere goodness maintained them. But now let us come to men. Where dwell they? They be far §60enough off from the said heavenly glory, they are here in the said transitory lodging: for what else are our bodies? Then are we (to speak properly) in our graves. For our bodies are prisons, as dark to hinder us from the beholding of God, as if we were already under the earth. What is our foundation? dust: and yet we consider our selves never the more, how that we continually go into decay, and that death threateneth us incessantly: we consider not this a whit. Therefore we need not too wonder though there be nothing else but infirmity in men, seeing that the Angels which are so near unto God, have not so exquisite a perfection, but that God may condemn them if he list to enter into judgement with them.

WE haue seene already wherevnto this talketendeth: that is to